Auxiliary impact member and method of making the same



G. A. LYON Aug. 8', 1939.

AUXILIARY IMPACT MEMBER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25, 1937 $50265 171.5597 ya/v.

Aug. 8, 1939. G. A. LYON ,35

AUXILIARY IMPACT MEMBER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Oct. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 E 2UP" GEORGE ,flLaz-ler [yo/v.

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNlTED STATE FATE T QFFYICE AUXILIARY IMPACT MEMBER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME 12 Claims.

This invention relates to an auxiliary impact member and more particularly to a snap on bumper grille guard and to a method of making the same.

The ordinary motor vehicle of the present day is provided with a front and rear impact memher which is commonly known as a bumper. These impact members or bumpers afford a substantial measure of protection to the front and rear of the motor vehicle, but it has been found that in many instances a collision or accident occurs in which some obstacle, for example the bumper of another vehicle, extends over the top of the impact member and damages a portion of the car. This has been found particularlytrue with respect to the front impact member or bumper. In view of the fact that many motor vehicles of the present day are provided with an ornamental cast grille radiator front which is relatively expensive to manufacture and costly to replace, it has been found desirable in many instances to provide an auxiliary impact member or bumper guard on the front bumper. FOrsuch an auxiliary impact member to be commercially satisfactory, it is desirable that it be constructed in such a manner that it will withstand any ordinary shock or collision, and it must also be capable of being readily and quickly mounted on the bumper. A further essential is that it be manufactured in such a manner that it can be sold to the general public at a relatively low price.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel impact member possessing the above highly desirable characteristics and to provide a novel method for making the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary impact member of novel design which is economical to manufacture, rugged and reliable in use, and which may be readily and quickly assembled on the front or rear bumper of a motor vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for making snap-on impact members or bumper guards for vehicle bumpers.

Another and further object of this invention is toprovide a novel method for making snap on auxiliary impactmembers in which a single die stamps out one half of the auxiliary impact memher in one operation and then the other half of the auxiliary impact member in a second operation after the material has been turned over.

Another and still further object of this inven- :55 tion is to provide a novel method of making snap on ornamental bumper guards from a long roll of spring steel stock.

The novel-features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization, manner of construction, and'method of op eration, together with further objects and ad vantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a piece of. sheet metal stock from which the auxiliary impact member is to be formed; '15

Figure 2 illustrates the first cut-made in the die press;

Figure 3 illustrates the second operation in the die press, the sheet metal stock having been moved over a sufiicient extent to permit the use of the same die as for the first operation;

Figure 4 illustrates the third operation in the die press wherein the metal has been'turned over to permit the useof the same die for cutting the other half of the auxiliary impact member;

Figure 5 illustrates one of theintermediate blanks which is obtained after the operation illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 6 illustrates how the outer corner is cut from the blank leaving an auxiliary impact bar blank which is applicable to all types of bumpers;

Figure '7 illustrates how the rear edge of the blank is cut to fit a particular bumper;

Figure 8 shows the final step of the forming operation which includes bending the impact bar to an inverted V form;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view in cross section of the auxiliary impact member mounted on a vehicle bumper;

Figure 10 is a rear elevational view indicating the manner in which the auxiliary impact member is moved into position and mounted on a vehicle bumper; and

Figure 11 is a front elevational view of the auxiliary impact member in its mounted position on a vehicle bumper.

Referring now to Figures 1 to; 8 inclusive of the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the present invention, it will be observed that the various steps of the novel method or process of this invention are showncommencing with the ilat'strip of sheet metal stock in Figure land progressing through the successive stages of the method or process as illustrated in the succeeding figures until the form of the finished article is obtained as is shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Although the form of material which is employed to construct the auxiliary impact member of the present invention may vary through wide limits without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it has been found that a suitable grade of cold rolled steel stock is the preferable form of material to employ in constructing the auxiliary impact member. A fiat piece of such stock is indicated by the reference numeral II] in Figure 1. The strip of stock Ill illustrated in Figure 1 may of course come from a long continuous roll of stock or it may come from fiat sheets or strips of stock. Where large quantities of auxiliary impact members are to be manufactured, it has been found preferable to employ long narrow continuous strips of stock which is obtained in rolls.

The first step in the blanking or stamping operation is illustrated in Figure 2, the line BC indicating the line of cut made by the die during the first blanking operation. This blanking or stamping operation may be carried on in any suitable press such as is commonly employed in a manufacturing operation which requires a blanking or stamping operation. As will presently be explained only one die which corresponds to slightly more than one-half the length of the developed impact member, need be employed to carry out all of the required operations. The line of out which is made by the complete die may be seen best in Figure 3 where the line of cut is indicated by the reference character A-B-C.

As previously pointed out Figure 2 illustrates the first cut made in the blanking operation. As will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art, some waste will occur in the cutting of the initial blank from the long strip of cold rolled steel stock I0. Such waste stock is indicated by the reference numeral II. The cut B defines one edge of the first auxiliary impact member blank I2, while the cut C defines an edge of the second blank which is to be formed from the strip of stock I0.

The second step in the novel process is to shift the stock-I over until a line of out can be made as indicated by the line ABC in Figure 3.

.- The line of cut indicated by the reference character A forms an edge of the impact member blank I2; the line of cut B defines an edge of the second impact member blank I3 and also an edge of the impact member blank l4; and the line of cut C defines an edge of the next impact member blank I5.

As will presently appear, the ends of the auxiliary impact bar must be enlarged to provide suitable securing means for the member, while the upper end of the leg of the impact bar is preferably reduced in width to permit greater flexing of the impact member at this point. This variation in the width of the impact bar throughout the length of each leg permits the impact members to be manufactured in an extraordinarily economical manner since the curve of the lower end of the leg may be made complementary to the curve of the reduced portion of the leg. More particularly, I6 indicates a reduced portion of each impact member blank, and I1 indicates the widened end portion of the legs of the impact member. From a close inspection of Figure 3 it will be observed that the widened portion II ofthe blank I4 is the exact complement of the narrow portion I6 of the blank I3.

The third step of the novel process is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. As shown, the strip of stock II) has been turned over and moved back to the right approximately one-half the distance of the shift which was made between Figures 2 and 3. The stock is still retained in the same die press for the central line of cut B of the die makes the cut as shown in Figure 4 which separates blank I2 from blank I3. Careful attention should be paid to the fact that the line of cut B which is made in steps I, 2, and 3, as shown in Figures 2 3, and 4 respectively, are identical and are made by the same die.

Figure 5 illustrates an intermediate portion of stock such, for example, as is found in blank I4 and blank I5. This piece of stock is the same as the piece shown in Figure 4 with the exception that there is a pointed end I8 at each end of the stock rather than at just one end as will be found in the initial piece cut from the strip III. The first blank which is obtained from the stock I!) has one pointed end l8 and one blunt end I9 as is shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Figure 6 illustrates the blank I3 as it is obtained after the die press operation indicated in Figure 4. It is to be noted that the blank I3 still has one jagged corner or pointed end I8 thereon. This may be removed by again inserting the strip in the die press and causing the die cutting edge which eifects the line of out A to blank off or cut off this corner. This final step of the process might of course be conveniently carried out in a separate press if desired.

The auxiliary impact member blank is now in a form in which it is preferably stored in the factory pending final disposition of the same. This blank in this particular form is capable of being applied to any standard form of main bumper bar such as is commonly employed on all motor vehicles of the present day. In view ticular car upon which the auxiliary impact,

member is to be applied.

Figure 7 of the drawings shows one of the auxiliary member blanks cut out along its rear edge for accommodation to a bumper of a particular size and configuration. More particularly, a pair of converging complementary teeth I9 and 20 are cut from the rear edge of the blank, the edge portion of the blank between the complementary teeth I9 and 20 being blanked or cut out as at 2I so that this portion of the impact member will intimately overlie the front face of the vehicle bumper when the auxiliary impact member is disposed thereon in its mounted position. The blank or bar is now bent about its center from its fiat shape as shown by the full lines in Figure 8 to a V-shape as shown by the dotted lines of Figure 8. The final result is an auxiliary impact member 22 of inverted V-shape having downwardly extending diverging legs 23 and 24 which are arranged to extend across the front face of a vehicle bumper.

Figures 9, and 11 illustrate the manner in which the auxiliary impact member 22 is secured on a vehicle bumper 25 which is illustrated as being of a conventional design having a slightly convexed front face. As may be seen best in Figure 9 of the drawings, the complementary teeth I9 and extend over and under the upper and lower edges respectively of the bumper when the impact member 22 is .in mounted position thereon.

The manner in which the complementary teeth l9 and'ZO of legs 23 and 24 are hooked over and under the upper and lower edges respectively of the bumper 25 is illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings which shows a rear elevational view of the impact member 22 and the bumper 25. In view of the fact that the complementary teeth I9 and 2B snugly fit around the edges of the bumper 25 when the legs 23 and 24 extend at a substantial angle to the horizontal, it will readily be appreciated that if the legs are moved to a substantially vertical position, the clearance distance between the tips of the complementary teeth l9 and is greater than the vertical width dimension of the bumper 25. Hence, to mount the auxiliary impact member 22 on the bumper '25 it is simply necessary to fiex the legs 23 and :24 inwardly until they have assumed a position in which the legs are in a substantially vertical position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 10. While the legs 23 and 24 are held'in this position the auxiliary impact member 22 is moved into position against the front face of the bumper 25, the complementary teeth l9 and 20 of legs23 and 24 passing over and under the upper and lower edges respectively of the bumper 25. The legs 23 and 24 are now permitted to flex outwardly until the complementary teeth l9 and 20 firmly grip the bumper 25. The auxiliary impact member 22 in its mounted position is clearly shown in Figures 9 and 11 of the drawings. 7

As will now be appreciated, it is preferable to reduce the width dimension of the stock in the auxiliary impact member 22 near the upper ends of the legs 23 and 24 in order that the legs may be more easily flexed at this point. It will also be apparent that it is desirable to increase the width dimension of the material opposite that point on each leg where the complementary teeth is and 20 are formed in order to accommodate itself to the increased stresses at these points. It will also be clear that due to the inherent stiffness of the cold rolled steel stock the auxiliary impact member 22 will retain itself in tight engagement with the bumper 25' by reason of its own inherent stiffness or resiliency as the case may be.

In order to enhance the general appearance of the car on which auxiliary member is to be applied, it is generally desirable to give the auxiliary impact member a chromium plated finish, a high polish finish, or some other suitable finish.

From the above description of my novel process, it will be at once apparent that I have provided a manufacturing process which reduces waste to a minimum, and which is extraordinarily economical to carry out. It will also be appreciated that the article which may be made by my novel process is extremely rugged and reliable in use, and is of such a character that it can be readily and quickly applied to an ordinary vehicle bumper by any person whether he be a skilled mechanic or not.

Although I have described my novel process as being carried out by a die capable of blanking approximately one-half of the article at a time, it is to be understood that the entire article may be blanked in one operation by utilizing a large die. This method of blanking still retains the desirable feature of the present invention which permits utilizing the opposite edges of a strip of metal stock as one edge of a finished article while utilizing an intermediate curved or serpentine line of cut to define the other edge of the finished article.

WhileI have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it'will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate-by the appended claims to cover all .1

such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of 'makingblanks for auxiliary impact members from a long narrow strip of metal stock which includes cutting rows of blanks by a series of reversely curved lines of cut, the

lanks in each row'being staggered with respect to the blanks beside them and each line of cut defining approximately one half of one edge of an impact member blank.

2. The method of making blanks for auxiliary impact members from a long narrow strip of metal stock which includes cutting rows of blanks by a series of reversely curved lines of cut, the blanks in each row being staggered with respect to the blanks beside them and each line of cut defining complementary facing edges of a pair of staggered blanks on opposite sides of said strip.

3. The method of making blanks for auxiliary impact members from a long narrow strip of metal stock which includes stamping out an initial double blank having upper and lower blank portions, staggered with respect'to each other, each of said portions having a similar reversely curved edge, turning said double'blank over and severing the same along .a reversely curved line of out similar to said reverselycurved edges.

4. The method of making blanks for auxiliary impact members from a long narrow strip of metal stock in a diepress with a cutting die arranged to out along .an'irregular curved line'over approximately one half of the length of a blank which includes stamping said strip in said die press, moving said strip substantially the length of a finished blank, then stamping said strip again to form a double impact bar blank, reversing said double impact bar blank and moving it back substantially one half of the length of a finished blank, and stamping said double blank again with said die to separate the same into two single blanks.

5. The method of making an auxiliary impact bar blank of a type having a substantially straight longitudinal edge and anirregular curved longitudinal edge which curves first outwardly from either end to form a fastening portion of enlarged width at either end of the blank, then curves inwardly to form a flexible portion of reduced width and, finally curves outwardly again to form a central portion, which includes taking a strip of metal stock, stamping approximately one half of said curved edge in a die press, turning said blank over, and finally stamping the other half of said curved edge in the same die press.

6. The method of making blanks for auxiliary impact members of the type having a substantially straight longitudinal edge and an irregularly curved edge which first curves outwardly from either end of the blank to form a fastening portion of enlarged width and then curved inwardly to form flexible portions of reduced width, which includes taking a long narrow strip of metal stock having a width substantially equal to the width of said enlarged portion. plus the width of said reduced portion of said blank, making a series of reversely curved longitudinal cuts in said strip at spaced intervals therealong, turning said strip over and making a second series of reversely curved longitudinal cuts in said strip in the interval between said first cut whereby the longitudinal curved edge of said blanks is formed.

7. The method of making auxiliaryimpact members for vehicle bumpers from a strip of metal stock having parallel edges which includes blanking a propeller-shaped section from said strip, portions of said opposite edges of said strip forming portions of the edge of said propeller-shaped section, reversing said propeller-shaped section, severing said propeller-shaped section along a curved line of cut and slitting each half to provide openings in the ends of each of said impact members for accommodating a bumper bar as well as bending said strip at the junction of its two halves to form an impact member having two diverging legs extending from the point of bend.

8. The method of making auxiliary impact members which includes first blanking a half of each of two members from a strip of metal stock, inverting the strip, blanking the other halves of the two members by a single cut between them, notching out each half to provide openings in the ends of each of said impact members for aocommodating a bumper bar, and bending each mem her at the junction of its two halves to form impact members each having two diverging legs extending from the point of bend.

9. The method of making blanks for auxiliary impact members from a long narrow strip of fiat metal stock which includes slitting the stock by a series of elongated S-shaped cuts, each of such cuts joining the adjacent cuts at an angle and the successive angles facing towards opposite edges of the strip, cutting off the stock on alternate sides of said cuts at said angles, and trim ming the ends of the blanks.

10. The method of making blanks for auxiliary impact members from a long narrow strip of flat metal stock which includes cutting oil a piece of the stock by two similar cuts spaced along the stock a distance equal to the length of one blank, each of said cuts comprising an elongated S- shaped central portion down the center of the stock and two terminal portions connecting the ends of the central portion to opposite sides of the stock, the central portions of said cuts each being half as long as one blank, severing the piece of stock into two blanks by an elongated S-shaped cut joining the ends of the central portions of the first two outs and a mirror-image of each of said central portions, and trimming the ends of the two blanks.

11. An auxiliary impact member comprising a long bent piece of metal plate formed so that, if the member were flattened out, the greater part of one edge would be straight, the opposite edge would be curved and symmetric about a line perpendicular to the straight edge, and a great part of each half of the curved edge would be symmetric about a point at the center of said half.

12. An auxiliary impact member comprising a long piece of metal plate bent into a Vshape, the edges of the metal plate being formed so that, if the member were flattened out, the greater part of one edge would be straight, the opposite edge would be curved and symmetric about a line{ perpendicular to the straight edge, and each half of the curved edge would be symmetric about a point at the center of each half except for a dovetail notch near the end.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

